Wireless charging control based on electronic device events

ABSTRACT

An electronic device may include a battery, and a charging system in electronic communication with the battery. The charging system may be configured to initiate a charging of the batter when the battery is in a partially-depleted state. The charging system may then discontinue the charging in response to the battery being charged to the threshold charge value, and may monitor the function of the electronic device to predict an event of the electronic device. After the event is predicted, the charging system may determine when to initiate a recharging process, so that the battery is fully charged when the event occurs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation patent application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/218,431, filed Dec. 12, 2018 and titled“Wireless Charging Control Based on Electronic Device Events,” which isa continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/831,222, filed Dec. 4, 2017 and titled “Electronic Device WirelessCharging System,” now U.S. Pat. No. 10,170,918, which is a continuationpatent application of U.S. Ser. No. 15/086,730, filed Mar. 31, 2016 andtitled “Electronic Device Charging System,” now U.S. Pat. No. 9,837,835,which is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/201,663, filed Mar. 7, 2014 and titled “Electronic Deviceand Charging Device for Electronic Device,” now U.S. Pat. No. 9,455,582,the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to electronic devices and, moreparticularly, to an electronic device, a charging device, and a methodfor charging the battery of the electronic device.

BACKGROUND

Current electronic devices continue to become more prevalent inday-to-day activities. For example, smart phones and tablet computerscontinue to grow in popularity and provide everyday personal andbusiness functions to its users. These electronic devices are usuallyoperational for the majority of a typical day, where a user may utilizethe electronic device to send messages (e.g., text and e-mail), work ondocuments, play games, conduct phone calls, and perform other personaland/or business specific tasks.

With extensive daily use, a long battery life is one of the mostimportant operational characteristics of the electronic device. However,as the overall size of the electronic device continues to get smaller,the internal space of the electronic device also gets smaller. Thisreduced internal space may result in a smaller battery as well. With asmaller battery in an electronic device, the battery may need to becharged daily—or even several times a day.

The charging of the electronic device typically includes electricallycoupling the electronic device to a charging device. The charging devicemay provide an electrical current to the electronic device, and theelectronic device may convert the current to charge the battery.Conventional charging devices for the electronic device may charge adepleted battery to a threshold charge value (e.g., 100%). Once thebattery reaches the threshold charge value, the conventional chargingdevice may stop providing an electrical current to the electronicdevice, which may ultimately allow the maximum charged battery todeplete. When the battery depletes to a predetermined minimum chargevalue (e.g., 90%), the charging device may once again provide electricalcurrent to the electronic device to charge the battery to the thresholdcharge value again. When an electronic device remains connected to theconventional charging device, the cycle between threshold charge valueand predetermined minimum charge value may occur several times.

With each charge to the threshold charge value and/or each cycle betweenthe threshold charge value and the predetermined minimum charge value,the life of certain types of batteries may be reduced. Morespecifically, each time such batteries cycle between the thresholdcharge value and predetermined minimum charge value during theconventional charging process, the battery's ability to hold a maximumcharge for a duration of time may be substantially reduced. Over timethe reduction in the battery's ability to hold the charge may result inthe battery needing to be charged several times a day. When the batterycannot be charged several times a day, the battery may be completelydepleted and the electronic device may be inoperable (e.g., shutdown dueto lack of power).

SUMMARY

Generally, embodiments discussed herein are related to an electronicdevice, a charging device and a method for charging the battery of theelectronic device. The electronic device may include a battery and acharging system for charging the battery. The charging system may beconfigured to monitor the activities and/or events of the electronicdevice to ensure that the battery is substantially charged prior to, orimmediately after the occurrence of an event. That is, the charging ofthe battery may be dependent upon the monitoring and/or the occurrenceof activities and events of the electronic device, and not cyclingbetween threshold charge values and minimum charge values. As a result,the charging system of the electronic device may substantially preventundesirable depletion of the battery's ability to maintain a charge.That is, by eliminating the cycling charging of the battery of theelectronic device, the charging system of the electronic device mayminimize and substantially prevent the depletion of the battery'sability to maintain a charge.

One embodiment may include an electronic device. The electronic devicemay include a battery and a charging system in electronic communicationwith the battery. The charging system may be configured to charge atleast a partially-depleted battery to a threshold charge value,discontinue the charging in response to the battery being charged to thethreshold charge value, and monitor the function of the electronicdevice to detect at least one of an anticipated event and anunanticipated event of the electronic device. Additionally, the chargingsystem may be configured to recharge the battery in response todetecting one of the anticipated event occurring subsequent to therecharging of the battery or the unanticipated event occurringimmediately before the recharging of the battery.

Another embodiment may include a charging device for an electronicdevice. The charging device may include a connection portionelectrically coupled to a battery of the electronic device, and acharging system in electronic communication with the battery of theelectronic device. The charging system may be configured to charge atleast a partially-depleted battery to a threshold charge value,discontinue the charging in response to the battery being charged to thethreshold charge value, and monitor the function of the electronicdevice to detect at least one of an anticipated event and anunanticipated event of the electronic device. Additionally, the chargingsystem may be configured to recharge the battery in response todetecting one of the anticipated event occurring subsequent to therecharging of the battery or the unanticipated event occurringimmediately before the recharging of the battery.

A further embodiment may include a method for charging a battery of anelectronic device. The method may include charging at least apartially-depleted battery for the electronic device to a thresholdcharge value, discontinuing the charging in response to the batterybeing charged to the threshold charge value, and monitoring the functionof the electronic device to detect at least one of an anticipated eventand an unanticipated event of the electronic device. The method may alsoinclude recharging the battery in response to detecting one of theanticipated event occurring subsequent to the reactivation of thecharging device or the unanticipated event occurring immediately beforethe reactivation of the charging device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIG. 1A shows an illustrative perspective view of an electronic deviceincluding a battery, according to embodiments.

FIG. 1B shows an illustrative block diagram of the electronic deviceincluding the battery as shown in FIG. 1A, according to embodiments.

FIG. 2A shows an illustrative perspective view of a charging deviceincluding a charging system, according to embodiments.

FIG. 2B shows an illustrative block diagram of the charging deviceincluding the charging system as shown in FIG. 2A, according toembodiments.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a method for charging a battery ofan electronic device. This method may be performed on the battery of theelectronic device as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIGS. 4-7 show illustrative linear graphs representing the method ofcharging a battery for an electronic device, as depicted in FIG. 3,according to various embodiments.

It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not necessarily toscale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of theinvention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scopeof the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents likeelements between the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodimentsillustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood thatthe following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments toone preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to coveralternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included withinthe spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by theappended claims.

The following disclosure relates generally to electronic devices and,more particularly, to a charging device and a method for charging abattery of an electronic device.

In a particular embodiment, the electronic device may include a batteryand a charging system for charging the battery. The charging system maybe configured to monitor the activities and/or events of the electronicdevice to ensure that the battery is substantially charged prior to, orimmediately after the occurrence of, an event. That is, the charging ofthe battery may be dependent upon the monitoring and/or the occurrenceof activities and events of electronic device, and not upon cyclingbetween threshold charge values and minimum charge values. As a result,the charging system of the electronic device may substantially preventundesirable depletion of the battery's ability to maintain a charge. Byeliminating the cycling charging of the battery of the electronicdevice, the charging system of the electronic device may minimize andsubstantially prevent the depletion of the battery's ability to maintaina charge.

The electronic device may include a battery and a charging system inelectronic communication with the battery. The charging system may beconfigured to charge at least a partially-depleted battery to athreshold charge value, discontinue the charging in response to thebattery being charged to the threshold charge value, and monitor thefunction of the electronic device to detect at least one of ananticipated event and an unanticipated event of the electronic device.Additionally the charging system may be configured to recharge thebattery in response to detecting an anticipated event, occurringsubsequent to the recharging of the battery, or an unanticipated event,occurring immediately before the recharging of the battery. A chargingdevice and charging methods are also disclosed.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS.1A-7. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thedetailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is forexplanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of one example of an electronic devicethat can include, or be connected to, a charging system. In theillustrated embodiment, the electronic device 100 is implemented as asmart telephone. Other embodiments may implement the electronic devicedifferently, such as, for example, a laptop or desktop computer, atablet computing device, a gaming device, a display, a digital musicplayer, a wearable computing device or display such as a watch orglasses, and other types of electronic devices that may receivebiometric data from a biometric sensing device.

The electronic device 100 includes an enclosure 102 at least partiallysurrounding a display 104 and one or more buttons 106 or input devices.The enclosure 102 may form an outer surface, or partial outer surface,and protective case for the internal components of the electronic device100, and may at least partially surround the display 104. The enclosure102 may be formed of one or more components operably connected together,such as a front piece and a back piece. Alternatively, the enclosure 102may be formed of a single piece operably connected to the display 104.

The electronic device 100 may also include a battery charging port 108.As shown in FIG. 1A, the battery charging port 108 may be in electroniccommunication with the battery 110 of the electronic device 100. Morespecifically, the battery charging port 108 may include an apertureconfigured to receive a portion of a charging device 200 (see FIGS. 2Aand 2B) for charging the battery 110. That is, the battery charging port108 may be coupled to the charging device 200, such that the chargingdevice 200 may provide an electric current to the electronic device 100to substantially charge the battery 110, as discussed herein.

FIG. 1B is an illustrative block diagram of the electronic device 100shown in FIG. 1A. The electronic device 100 may include the display 104,a processing device 112, memory 114, an input/output (I/O) device 116, asensor 118, a network communications interface 120, and a power source122. The display 104 may display an image or video output for theelectronic device 100. The display 104 may also provide an input regionfor one or more input devices 116, such as, for example, a touch sensingdevice and/or a fingerprint sensing device. The display 104 may besubstantially any size and may be positioned substantially anywhere onthe electronic device 100.

The processing device 112 may control some or all of the operations ofthe electronic device 100. The processing device 112 may communicate,either directly or indirectly, with substantially all of the componentsof the electronic device 100. For example, a system bus or signal line124 or other communication mechanisms may provide communication betweenthe processing device 112, the memory 114, the I/O device 116, thesensor 118, the network communications interface 120, and/or the powersource 122. The processing device 112 may be implemented as anyelectronic device capable of processing, receiving, or transmitting dataor instructions. For example, the processing device 112 may be amicroprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), orcombinations of such devices. As described herein, the term “processingdevice” is meant to encompass a single processor or processing unit,multiple processors, multiple processing units, or other suitablyconfigured computing element or elements.

The memory 114 may store electronic data that may be used by theelectronic device 100. More specifically, in a non-limiting example,memory 114 for the electronic device 100 may store electrical data orcontent relating to the charging of the battery 110, as discussedherein. The memory 114 may be configured as any type of memory. By wayof example only, the memory 114 may be implemented as random accessmemory, read-only memory, Flash memory, removable memory, or other typesof storage elements, or combinations of such devices.

The electronic device 100 may also include one or more sensors 118positioned substantially anywhere on the electronic device 100. Thesensor(s) 118 may be any conventional sensor for determining an amountof electrical current being provided to the electronic device 100, or asensor configured to determine a time for receiving electrical currentduring the charging processes discussed herein.

The power source 122 may be implemented with any device capable ofproviding energy to the electronic device 100. That is, the power source122 may be one or more disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries(e.g., battery 110) of the electronic device 100. More specifically, asshown in FIG. 1B, the power source 122 may include the battery 110.Additionally, and as discussed in detail herein, the power source 122may include a connection cable or the charging device 200 (see FIGS. 2Aand 2B), that may connect the electronic device 100, and specificallythe battery 110, to another power source such as a wall outlet, USBoutlet or port, or 12V outlet.

The power source 122 may be connected to a battery charging system 126(hereafter, the “charging system 126”). The charging system 126 may beincluded within the electronic device 100, in electronic communicationwith the power source 122 and/or the battery 110, or the charging system126 may be included directly within the power source 122, as discussedherein. The charging system 126 is generally configured to charge thebattery 110 of the electronic device 100 based on events (e.g.,interactions and/or programs) that may take place on/with the electronicdevice 100. That is, and as discussed in detail herein, the chargingsystem 126 may be configured to charge the battery 110 based onanticipated and/or unanticipated events of the electronic device 100,and not on predetermined charge values of the electronic device 100. Inone embodiment, the charging system 126 may include a processing deviceand a memory. Any suitable processing device and memory may be used inthe charging system 126. It is understood that other components may beincluded in the charging system 126 in some embodiments. The chargingsystem 126 is described in more detail in conjunction with FIGS. 3-7.

As discussed above, the battery 110 of the electronic device 100 (seeFIG. 1A) may be charged using the charging device 200, as shown in FIGS.2A-2B. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, the charging device 200may include a connection portion 202 configured to be coupled to theelectronic device 100 (FIG. 1A), and in electronic communication withthe battery 110 to provide an electrical current to charge the battery110. The charging device 200 may include a plurality of contact pins 204positioned on the connection portion 202. Contact pins 204 may contactcorresponding contact pins (not shown) positioned within the batterycharging port 108 of the electronic device 100 for transferring theelectrical current provided by the charging device 200 to the electronicdevice 100, to ultimately charge the battery 110.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the connection portion 202 may be coupled to thehousing 206 of the charging device 200 via insulated wires 208. Morespecifically, insulated wires 208 may be positioned between theconnection portion 202 and the housing 206 of the charging device 200,and may substantially provide an electrical current from the housing 206to the connection portion 202 to be subsequently provided to theelectronic device 100. The housing 206 may be configured to draw anelectrical current from any conventional power source. For example, asshown in FIG. 2A, the housing 206 may include a two-prong AC power plug210, which may be configured to be inserted into a conventional wallsocket or plug to draw an electrical current to the charging device 200.Although shown as an AC power plug 210, the housing 206 and/or thecharging device 200 may be provided with the electrical current from anyconventional power supply including, but not limited to, a USB port or a12V outlet.

As discussed above, the charging device 200 may be configured to providean electrical current to the electronic device 100 including thecharging system 126, to charge the battery 110. In an alternativeembodiment, the charging device 200, as shown in FIG. 2A, may includethe charging system 126, rather than the electronic device 100, and thecharging device 200 may be configured to charge the battery 110 usingthe processes discussed herein with respect to FIG. 3. That is, thecharging system 126 may be distinct from the electronic device 100 andmay be included in the housing 206 of the charging device 200.

Although shown as a single device that may be electrically coupled tothe electronic device 100, the charging device 200 may include aninductive or wireless charging system that may include the chargingsystem 126. That is, the charging device 200 may be configured as aninductive or wireless charging system including the charging system 126,that may be configured to charge the battery 110 of the electronicdevice 100 using the processes discussed herein with respect to FIG. 3.

FIG. 2B is an illustrative block diagram of the charging device 200shown in FIG. 2A. The charging device 200 may include a processingdevice 212, memory 214, sensors 216, a network communications interface218, and a power source 220. The charging device 200 may includesubstantially similar components as those components of the electronicdevice 100 discussed with respect to FIG. 1B. As such, redundantexplanation of those components may be omitted for clarity.

The processing device 212 may control some or all of the operations ofthe charging device 200. The processing device 212 may communicate,either directly or indirectly, with substantially all of the componentsof the charging device 200. For example, a system bus, signal line 222,or other communication mechanisms may provide communication between theprocessing device 212, memory 214, sensors 216, the networkcommunications interface 218 and/or the power source 220. The processingdevice 212 may be implemented as any electronic device capable ofprocessing, receiving, or transmitting data or instructions. Forexample, the processing device 212 may be a microprocessor, a centralprocessing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), or combinations of suchdevices. As described herein, the term “processing device” is meant toencompass a single processor or processing unit, multiple processors,multiple processing units, or other suitably configured computingelement or elements.

It should be noted that FIGS. 1A-2B are illustrative only. In otherexamples, an electronic device and/or charging device may include feweror more components than those shown in FIGS. 1A-2B.

Turning to FIG. 3, and with continued reference to FIGS. 1A-2B, aprocess for charging the battery 110 of the electronic device 100 (seeFIGS. 1A and 1B) may now be discussed. Specifically, FIG. 3 is aflowchart depicting one sample method 300 for charging the battery 110using the charging system 126 of the electronic device 100 or thecharging device 200. That is, the sample method for charging the battery110, as depicted in FIG. 3 and discussed herein, may be implemented bythe charging system 126, regardless of the charging system 126 beingincluded within the electronic device 100, or the charging device 200.

In operation 302, a partially-depleted battery 110 for electronic device100 may be charged to a threshold charge value. The partially-depletedbattery 110 may include any charge value that is below the maximumcharge. That is, when the threshold charge value includes a fullycharged (e.g., 100%) battery 110, partially-depleted battery 110 mayinclude a charge value less than the maximum charge (e.g., 90-0%). Thepartially-depleted battery 110 of the electronic device 100 may becharged using the charging device 200 configured to be electricallycoupled to the battery charging port 108 of the electronic device 100,when the charging device 200 may provide electrical currents to theelectronic device 100. It is understood that the charge of the battery110 may be depleted as a result of a variety of factors including, butnot limited to: extended use of the electronic device 100, non-chargingof the electronic device 100, and/or the operational life of the battery110 for the electronic device 100.

In operation 304, the charging of the battery 110 of the electronicdevice 100 may be discontinued in response to the battery 110 beingcharged to the threshold charge value. That is, when thepartially-depleted battery 110 of operation 302 is charged to thethreshold charge value (e.g., 100%), the electric current provided tothe electronic device 100 to charge the battery 110 may be discontinued.In response to the discontinuing of the charging of the battery 110 ofthe electronic device 100, the charge value of the battery 110 maygradually deplete. That is, as a result of discontinuing the charge tothe battery 110, the charge value of the battery 110 may deplete orlessen from the threshold charge value over time.

As discussed herein, the charging system 126 may recognize that thebattery 110 has been charged to the threshold charge value, and maysubsequently discontinue the charge provided to the battery 110 inoperation 302. That is, the charging system 126 may be in electroniccommunication with the power source 122 including the battery 110, andmay monitor the charge value of the battery 110 to determine when thebattery 110 is charged to the threshold charge value. When the chargingsystem 126 determines that the battery 110 is charged to the thresholdcharge value, the charging system 126 may discontinue the charge.

The charging system 126 may discontinue the charge by stopping theelectrical current from flowing from the charging device 200 (see FIG.2A) to the electronic device 100. More specifically, the charging system126, in electronic communication with the power source 122 and thebattery 110, may discontinue the draw of electrical current from thecharging device 200, which may ultimately stop current from flowing tothe battery 110. In an alternative embodiment, the charging system 126may be in electronic communication with an internal contact pins (notshown) of the electronic device 100 and/or contact pins 204 for thecharging device 200 used for charging the battery 110. When the battery110 is charged to the threshold charge value, the charging system 126may temporarily disconnect the contact pins (e.g., contact pins 204),which may ultimately prevent the electrical current provided by thecharging device 200 to reach the electronic device 100 and/or thebattery 110.

In an alternative embodiment, when the charging device 200 includes aninductive or wireless system including the charging system 126, thecharge to the battery 110 of the electronic device 100 may also bediscontinued in response to the battery 110 being charged to thethreshold charge value. More specifically, the charging system 126 of aninductive or wireless system may disconnect or discontinue thetransmission of electrical current to the battery 110 of the electronicdevice 100, once the charging system 126 determines the battery 110 ischarged to the threshold charge value.

As such, the discontinuing of the charge to the battery 110 in operation304 may also include maintaining the electrical coupling between thecharging device 200 and the battery 110 of the electronic device 100.That is, as a result of the charging system 126 controlling and/ordiscontinuing the charge provided to the battery 110, the chargingdevice 200 may remain substantially coupled to the battery charging port108 and may remain electrically coupled to the battery 110. As discussedherein, by maintaining the electrical coupling between the chargingdevice 200 and the battery 110 of the electronic device 100, thecharging system 126 may reactivate or recharge the battery 110.

In operation 306, a function of the electronic device 100 may bemonitored to detect an anticipated event and/or an unanticipated eventof the electronic device 100. That is, the charging system 126 maymonitor the function, operation and/or interactions of the electronicdevice 100, when electrically coupled to the charging device 200, todetect anticipated and/or unanticipated events that may take place on orwith respect to the electronic device 100.

The anticipated events of the electronic device 100 detected during themonitoring process in operation 306 may include a predeterminedoperation of the electronic device 100, and/or a reoccurring interactionwith the electronic device 100.

For example, a predetermined operation of the electronic device 100 maybe a scheduled alarm set on the electronic device 100. Morespecifically, the electronic device 100 may be configured to include aprogrammable alarm that may alert a user of the electronic device 100 ata predetermined time.

A reoccurring interaction with the electronic device 100 may be alearned and/or regular interaction a user may have with the electronicdevice 100. In an example, the reoccurring interaction with theelectronic device 100 may include a substantially consistent, andregular times for coupling and uncoupling the charging device 200 to theelectronic device 100. That is, the reoccurring interaction with theelectronic device 100 may be learned by the charging system 126 when auser regularly couples the electronic device 100 to the charging device200 at a first time, and uncouples the electronic device 100 from thecharging device 200 at a second time.

The unanticipated events of the electronic device 100 detected duringthe monitoring process in operation 306 may include a spontaneous,unexpected interaction with the electronic device 100. As one example,an unanticipated event of the electronic device 100 may include a userrandomly interacting with the electronic device 100 when the electronicdevice 100 is electrically coupled to the charging device 200. Forexample, when a user electrically couples the electronic device 100 tothe charging device 200 while the user sleeps, an unanticipated eventmay include the user unexpectedly checking the time using the electronicdevice 100 after randomly waking-up.

In operation 308, the battery 110 of the electronic device 100 may berecharged in response to detecting one of an anticipated event and/or anunanticipated event. More specifically, the charging system 126 mayreactivate or continue the charging of the battery 110 in response todetecting an anticipated event and/or an unanticipated event during themonitoring of the function of electronic device during operation 306.The detected anticipated event may occur a predetermined time subsequentto the recharging of the battery 110. That is, and as discussed herein,the recharging of the battery 110 may begin a predetermined time beforethe detected, anticipated event is expected to occur. Additionally, thedetected unanticipated event may occur immediately before the rechargingof the battery 110 of operation 308. More specifically, and discussedherein, the recharging of the battery 110 may begin immediately afterthe detected, unanticipated event occurs.

When an anticipated event is detected or predicted in operation 306, therecharging of the battery 110 in operation 308 may include charging thebattery 110 to the threshold charge value (e.g., 100% charge) prior tothe occurrence of the anticipated event. That is, when an anticipatedevent is expected to occur on the electronic device 100, the chargingsystem 126 may begin to charge the battery 110 a predetermined timeprior to the expected occurrence of the anticipated event to ensure thebattery 110 is charged to the threshold charge value prior to theoccurrence of the anticipated event. Additionally, when an anticipatedevent is detected in operation 306, the recharging of the battery 110 inoperation 308 may include charging the battery 110 at a first rate priorto the occurrence of the anticipated event. That is, charging system 126may be configured to provide the battery 110 a charge within a pluralityof distinct charging rates, including a first charging rate, which maybe used to charge the battery 110 when an anticipated event is detected.As such, during the recharging of the battery 110 of electronic device100 in operation 308, the charging system 126 may begin to charge thebattery 110 at a first rate, a predetermined time prior to the expectedoccurrence of the anticipated event. As can be understood, thepredetermined time to begin recharging the battery 110 of the electronicdevice 100 may be determined based on a variety of operational functionsof the electronic device 100 and/or the charging system 126 including,but not limited to the charging rate used to charge the battery 110 andthe charge value of the partially depleted battery 110 (e.g., as inoperation 304).

When an unanticipated event is detected in operation 306, the rechargingof the battery 110 in operation 308 may include charging the battery 110to the threshold charge value (e.g., 100%) or to a nearly thresholdcharge value, subsequent to the occurrence of the unanticipated event.That is, when the unanticipated event is detected on the electronicdevice 100, the battery 110 may be charged to the threshold chargevalue, or as close to the threshold charge value as possible after theunanticipated event occurs, but prior to the disconnection between theelectronic device 100 and the charging device 200. Additionally, indetecting the unanticipated event in operation 306, the recharging ofthe battery 110 in operation 308 may include charging the battery 110 ata second rate, distinct from the first rate, immediately after theoccurrence of the unanticipated event. As discussed above, the chargingsystem 126 may be configured to provide the battery 110 a charge with aplurality of distinct charging rates. As such, when the unanticipatedevent is detected, the charging system 126 may charge the battery 110 ata second rate, distinct (e.g., greater) from the first rate, to chargethe battery 110 to the threshold charge value, or as close to thethreshold charge value as possible.

Although depicted in FIG. 3 and discussed herein as occurring subsequentto the charging in operation 302, and the discontinuing of the charge inoperation 304, the monitoring of the function of the electronic device100 in operation 306 may occur prior to, or simultaneous to, operation302 and/or operation 304. That is, the monitoring in operation 306 mayoccur prior to the charging in operation 302 and/or the discontinuing ofthe charge in operation 304. Additionally, the monitoring in operation306 may occur concurrently with the charging in operation 302 and/or thediscontinuing of the charge in operation 304. As such, it is understoodthat the monitoring of operation 306 may occur any time between theelectrical coupling of the charging device 200 and the electronic device100, the recharging of the battery 110 in operation 308.

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative linear graph representing the method ofcharging the battery 110 for the electronic device 100, as depicted inFIG. 3. An example of charging the battery 110 of the electronic device100 using the method depicted in FIG. 3 may now be discussed withrespect to FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the linear graph may represent the charge value ofthe battery 110 over a period of time. More specifically, the lineargraph may represent the charge value of the battery 110 in electroniccommunication with the charging system 126, when the charge value of thebattery 110 is determined and/or modified by the charging system 126, ofthe system discussed herein. In the example embodiment, as shown in FIG.4 and discussed herein, an anticipated event may be detected by thecharging system 126.

The charging system 126 may determine that the electronic device 100 maybe electrically coupled to the charging device 200 at initial time T₀ tocharge the battery 110. As shown in FIG. 4, at initial time T₀, thecharging system 126 may determine that the battery 110 may bepartially-depleted to include an initial charge value (CV₀) less thanthe threshold charge value for the battery 110. The initial charge value(CV₀) may be any charge value that is less than the threshold chargevalue for the battery 110. As discussed herein, the threshold chargevalue may be any predetermined charge value for the battery 110 of theelectronic device 100. In a non-limiting example, as shown in FIG. 4,threshold charge value may include a maximum charge value (CV_(MAX))(e.g., 100%) for the battery 110. As a result of determining the battery110 includes an initial charge value (CV₀) less than the thresholdcharge value (CV_(MAX)), the charging system 126 may begin to charge thebattery 110. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the charging system126 may begin to charge the battery 110 over a period of time, such thatthe battery 110 may eventually include a charge value equal to thethreshold charge value (CV_(MAX)). As shown in FIG. 4, the battery 110may be charged to include the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)) at acharge time T₁. The charging of the battery 110 between the electricalcoupling at initial time T₀ and threshold charge value of battery 110 atthe charge time T₁ may corresponding to the charging in operation 302 ofFIG. 3.

It is understood, that the threshold charge value may include anypredetermined charge value for the battery 110 of the electronic device100. More specifically, the threshold charge value may include apredetermined charge value for the battery 110 that is less than themaximum charge value (CV_(MAX)), as shown in FIG. 4. In a non-limitingexample, the threshold charge value for the battery 110 may include a90% charge. That is, and as similarly discussed herein, it may bedetermined that the battery 110 includes an initial charge value (CV₀)less than the threshold charge value of 90% of the charge of the battery110. As a result, the charging system 126 may begin to charge thebattery 110 to eventually include a charge value equal to the thresholdcharge value (e.g., 90%).

As shown in FIG. 4, the charging system 126 may charge the battery 110at a second charge rate (ΔCR₂), which may be greater than a first chargerate (ΔCR₁), as discussed herein. The charging system 126 may initiallycharge the battery 110 at the increased, second charge rate (ΔCR₂)between time T₀ and T₁ to achieve the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX))for the battery 110 as quickly as possible. When the battery 110 isbeing charged at the second charge rate (ΔCR₂), the charging system 126may be instructing or requesting the maximum amount of electricalcurrent capable of being provided to the electronic device 100 and/orcapable of being drawn by the charging device 200.

As shown in FIG. 4, once the battery 110 reaches the threshold chargevalue (CV_(MAX)) at the charge time T₁, charging system 126 may allowthe charge value (CV) of the battery 110 to gradually deplete. That is,between charge time T₁ and charge time T₂, the charge value for thebattery 110 of the electronic device 100 may gradually deplete from thethreshold charge value (CV_(MAX)). The gradual depletion of the chargevalue of the battery 110 of the electronic device 100 may be a result ofthe charging system 126 discontinuing the charge of the battery 110 inresponse to the battery 110 being charged to the threshold charge value(CV_(MAX)) at charge time T₁. The discontinuing of the charge to thebattery 110, and the depletion of the charge value between charge timeT₁ and charge time T₂, as shown in FIG. 4, may corresponded to operation304 in FIG. 3.

As discussed herein, the discontinuing of the charge to the battery 110may be controlled by the charging system 126 while substantiallymaintaining the electrical coupling between the charging device 200 andthe battery 110 of the electronic device 100. In maintaining theelectrical coupling between the charging device 200 and the battery 110of the electronic device 100, the charging system 126 may be able toreinitiate the charging of the battery 110 at any time during thecharging process. That is, when the charging device 200 remainselectrically coupled to and in electronic communication with the battery110 of the electronic device 100, the charging system 126 maydiscontinue and/or recharge the battery 110 immediately after thedetection of an event (e.g., unanticipated event) that may require thebattery 110 to be charged to the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX))instantaneously.

At charge time T₂, the charging system 126 may determine that thebattery 110 includes a predetermined, partial charge value CV_(PRE).That is, the charging system 126 may continuously monitor the chargevalue (CV) of the battery 110 after discontinuing the charge at chargetime T₁, to identify when the charge value (CV) for the battery 110equals the predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE)) at charge timeT₂. When the battery 110 includes the predetermined, partial chargevalue (CV_(PRE)), the charging system 126 may be configured to maintainthe battery 110 at predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE)). Thatis, subsequent to the discontinuing of the charge, and the resultingdepletion of the charge value (CV) for the battery 110, the chargingsystem 126 may be configured to detect and substantially maintain thebattery 110 at the predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE)). Thecharging system 126 may substantially maintain the predetermined,partial charge value (CV_(PRE)) for the battery 110 between secondcharge time T₂ and charge time T₃. More specifically, as shown in FIG.4, between charge time T₂ and charge time T₃, the charging system 126may allow the charging device 200 to provide a temporary, partial-chargeto the battery 110, when the partial-charge substantially maintains thepredetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE)) for the battery 110. Thatis, the partial-charge provided to the battery 110 between charge timeT₂ and charge time T₃ may substantially maintain the predetermined,partial charge value (CV_(PRE)) and may not substantially fluctuate fromthe predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE)).

Briefly turning to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment for maintain thepredetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE)) may be shown.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, between charge time T₂ and charge timeT₃, the charging system 126 may maintain an average predetermined,partial charge value (CV_(PRE)) for the battery 110 by fluctuating thecharge value of the battery 110 between a maximum predetermined, partialcharge value (CV_(PREMAX)), and a minimum predetermined, partial chargevalue (CV_(PREMIN)). As shown in FIG. 5, both the maximum predetermined,partial charge value (CV_(PREMAX)), and the minimum predetermined,partial charge value (CV_(PREMIN)) may be substantially below thethreshold charge value (CV_(MAX)) for the battery 110, to substantiallyprevent negatively effecting the life of the battery 110, as discussedherein. The charging system 126 may fluctuate the charge value (CV) forthe battery 110 between the maximum predetermined, partial charge value(CV_(PREMAX)), and the minimum predetermined, partial charge value(CV_(PREMIN)) by repeatedly charging and discontinuing the charging ofthe battery 110, as discussed herein.

As discussed herein, the predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE))for the battery 110 of the electronic device 100 may be dependent uponthe charge rate (e.g., first charge rate, second charge rate) applied bythe charging system 126 for recharging the battery 110. Morespecifically, and as discussed herein, dependent upon the detection ofan anticipated event and/or an unanticipated event, and thecorresponding charge rate associated with the respective events, thecharging system 126 may adjust the charge value (CV) for thepredetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE)) for the battery 110.

Returning to FIG. 4, at any time between the initial time T₀ ofelectrically coupling the battery 110 of the electronic device 100 tothe charging system 126 and charge time T₃, the charging system 126 maymonitor the functions of the electronic device 100 to detect theanticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)). That is, and as discussed herein, thecharging system 126 may monitor the functions of the electronic device100 prior to, during, or subsequent to the charging of the battery 110(e.g., T₀-T₁), the discontinuing of the charge to the battery 110 (e.g.,T₁-T₂) and/or the maintaining of the predetermined, partial charge value(CV_(PRE)) of the battery 110 (e.g., T₂-T₃) to detect the anticipatedevent (Event_(ANTCP)).

As shown in FIG. 4, the charging system 126 may monitor the function ofthe electronic device 100 to detect the anticipated event(Event_(ANTCP)) is expected to occur at charge time T₄. That is, thecharging system 126 may interact with other components of the electronicdevice 100 (e.g., memory 114 and the processing device 112) to determinethat the electronic device 100 has an anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP))that may be expected to occur at charge time T₄. In a non-limitingexample, the anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) occurring at charge timeT₄ may include an alarm of the electronic device 100 scheduled forcharge time T₄. the monitoring to detect anticipated event(Event_(ANTCP)) at charge time T₄ may correspond to operation 306 inFIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, between charge time T₃ and charge time T₄ thebattery 110 may be recharged to the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)).More specifically, the charging system 126 may allow the charging device200 to recharge the battery 110 at a first charging rate (ΔCR₁) to thethreshold charge value (CV_(MAX)) prior to the occurrence of theanticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) at charge time T₄. By charging thebattery 110 at first charging rate (ΔCR₁), rather than the increased,second charging rate (ΔCR₂), battery 110 may be charged to thresholdcharge value (CV_(MAX)) using less electrical current. That is, when thecharging system 126 detects anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)), and mayrecharge the battery 110 to threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)) over apredetermined time, as discussed below, the charging system 126 maycharge the battery 110 at first charging rate (ΔCR_(1 ).)

Because first charging rate (ΔCR₁) requires less electrical current fromthe charging device 200, the charging of the battery 110 may reduce thehome-electrical cost of charging the battery 110, and/or may also allowthe battery 110 to be charged with an electrical current below themaximum allowed current for the electronic device 100. This mayultimately, provide less electrical stress to the battery 110 and/or theelectronic device 100 during the charging process discussed herein. Therecharging of the battery 110 between the third charge time T3 and thefourth charge time T4 may correspond to operation 308 in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, and discussed herein, the time between charge timeT₃ and charge time T₄ may be the predetermined time for charging thebattery 110, which may be dependent upon the anticipated event, thepredetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE)) and/or the rate ofcharging the battery 110 prior to the anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)).That is, the charging system 126 may determine that the charging device200 may begin charging the battery 110 at charge time T₃, as a result ofthe battery 110 being charged at the first charge rate and/or theanticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) expected to occur at charge time T₄.

As shown in FIG. 4, by determining and beginning the recharging of thebattery 110 at charge time T₃, the charging system 126 may ensure thatthe battery 110 is charged and maintained at the threshold charge value(CV_(MAX)) prior to the anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)). As a result,when the anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) occurs, and the electronicdevice 100 is immediately uncoupled from the charging device 200 atcharge time T₄, the battery 110 of the electronic device 100 may includethe threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)), and may only have reached thethreshold charge value (CV_(MAX)) twice during the charging processperformed by charging system 126 (e.g., T₀-T₄).

Turning to FIG. 6, a linear graph, according to an alternativeembodiment, may represent the charge value of the battery 110 inelectronic communication with the charging system 126, when the chargevalue of the battery 110 is determined and/or modified by the chargingsystem 126, of the system discussed herein. In the embodiment, as shownin FIG. 6 and discussed herein, an unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP))may be detected by the charging system 126.

As shown in FIG. 6, the linear graph representing the charge value forthe battery 110 of the electronic device 100 may function and/or mayundergo processes by the charging system 126 similar to those discussedin FIG. 4. That is, the linear graph illustrated in FIG. 6 may besubstantially identical to the linear graph in FIG. 4 between theinitial time T₀ and charge time T₂. The similarity may be a result ofthe charging system 126 performing substantially similar, initialprocesses (e.g., charging, discontinuing the charging, etc.) withrespect to an anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) (see, FIG. 4) and anunanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) (FIG. 6). As such, redundantexplanation of the charge value for the battery 110, as shown in FIG. 6between the initial time T₀ and charge time T₂ is omitted for clarity.

However, and in comparison to FIG. 4, after charge time T₂, andspecifically, during the maintaining of the predetermined, partialcharge value (CV_(PRE)) of the battery 110, the unanticipated event(Event_(UNANTCP)) may be detected by the charging system 126. Morespecifically, the charging system 126 may continuously monitor thefunction of the electronic device 100, and ultimately may detect theoccurrence of the unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) at charge timeT₅. As discussed herein, the unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) mayinclude a spontaneous or unexpected interaction with the electronicdevice 100 while the electronic device 100 is undergoing the chargingprocesses discussed herein with respect to FIG. 3. In a non-limitingexample, the unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)), as shown in FIG. 6,may include a user unexpectedly checking the time using the electronicdevice 100 after randomly waking up in the middle of the night.

As shown in FIG. 6, once the unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) isdetected, the charging system 126 may begin the recharging of thebattery 110. That is, immediately subsequent to the detection and/oroccurrence of the unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) at charge timeT₅, the charging system 126 may allow the charging device to providecurrent to the battery 110 at charge time T₆ to recharge the battery 110to the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)), or close to the thresholdcharge value (CV_(MAX)).

The charging system 126 may allow the battery 110 to be charged at thesecond charge rate (ΔCR₂), which may be greater than the first chargerate (ΔCR₁) (see, FIG. 4). More specifically, the charging system 126may allow the battery 110 to be charged at the second charge rate (ΔCR₂)so the battery 110 may be charged to the threshold charge value(CV_(MAX)) or as close to it as possible, over, for example, theshortest possible duration of time. That is, because of the spontaneityof unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)), and/or the inability of thecharging system 126 to detect the unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP))until after the event occurs, it may not be determined how long theelectronic device 100 will remain electrically coupled to chargingdevice after the occurrence unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)). Assuch, the charging system 126 may charge the battery 110 at the greater,second charge rate (ΔCR₂), in order for the battery 110 to include agreater charge value prior to the uncoupling of the electronic device100 and the charging device 200.

As shown in FIG. 6, the battery 110 may be charged at the second chargerate (ΔCR₂) between charge time T₆ and charge time T₇, where at chargetime T₇, the electronic device 100 may be uncoupled from the chargingdevice 200. As a result of uncoupling the electronic device 100 from thecharging device 200 at charge time T₇, the battery 110 may not becompletely charged to the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)), but mayonly be charged to a nearly threshold charge value (CV_(NEAR)). However,as shown in phantom in FIG. 6, if the electronic device 100 remainedelectrically coupled to the charging device 200 until charge time T₄,the battery 110 may be charged to the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)),as similarly discussed with respect to FIG. 4.

In an additional embodiment, the charging system 126 may detect both ananticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) and an unanticipated event(Event_(UNANTCP)) while the battery 110 is in electronic communicationwithin the charging system 126. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, which thebattery 110 of the electronic device 100 is in electronic communicationwith the charging system 126, both an anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP))and an unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) may be detected by thecharging system 126. When both an anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) andan unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) are detected by the chargingsystem 126, the predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE))substantially maintained by the charging system 126 may vary.

In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a non-limiting example of ananticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) may include an alarm on the electronicdevice 100, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 4. Additionally, anon-limiting example of an unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) mayinclude a user unexpectedly checking the time using the electronicdevice 100 while the battery 110 is in electronic communication with thecharging system 126, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 6.

The linear graph representing the charge value for the battery 110 ofthe electronic device 100 in FIG. 7 may function and/or may undergoprocesses by the charging system 126 similar to those discussed in FIGS.4 and/or 6. More specifically, as discussed above with respect to FIGS.4 and/or 6, the battery 110 may be electrically coupled with thecharging system 126 at initial time T₀, and may be charged to thethreshold charge value (CV_(MAX)) between initial time T₀ and chargetime T₁. Additionally, as similarly discussed with respect to FIG. 4,the charging system 126 may detect the anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP))at charge time T₄ by monitoring the function of the electronic device100. Finally, and as similarly discussed with respect to FIG. 6, thecharging system 126 may detect the unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP))at charge time T₅ and may immediately allow the battery 110 to berecharged at the second charge rate (ΔCR2) at charge time T₆.

As shown in FIG. 7, between charge time T₅ and charge time T₆, thecharging system 126 may maintain the battery 110 at a firstpredetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE1)). The firstpredetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE1)) may be substantiallyequal to a predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE)) determined bythe charging system 126, when an anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) isdetected (see, FIG. 4). That is, and as discussed herein, when ananticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) is detected by the charging system 126at charge time T₄, the charging system 126 may allow the battery 110 todeplete to first predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE1)) atcharge time T₂, and may substantially maintain first predetermined,partial charge value (CV_(PRE1)) until a time when recharging of thebattery 110 is required (e.g., T₄, T₆), as discussed herein.

As similarly discussed herein with respect to FIG. 6, the chargingsystem 126 may allow the charging device 200 to begin charging thebattery 110 to the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)) at charge time T₆.As shown in FIG. 7, the battery 110 may be charged to the thresholdcharge value (CV_(MAX)) at charge time T₈ and may be subsequentlymaintained at the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)). The battery 110 maybe maintained at the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)) in anticipationof the battery 110 of the electronic device 100 being uncoupled from thecharging device 200 by the user. However, if the battery 110 remains inelectronic communication with the charging device 200 for apredetermined time, the charging system 126 may again discontinue thecharge to the battery 110 and may allow the charge value of the battery110 to begin to deplete. The predetermined time may be indicated by thetime between charge time T₈ and charge time T₉, where at charge time T₉,the charging system 126 may discontinue the charge supplied to thebattery 110 by the charging device 200, and may allow the charge value(CV) of the battery 110 to deplete, as similarly discussed with respectto FIG. 4 between charge time T₁ and charge time T₂.

The charging system 126 may allow charging value (CV) to deplete untilcharge time T₁₀, when the charge value (CV) for the battery 110 is equalto a second predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE2)). As shown inFIG. 7, the second predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE2)) forthe battery 110 may be substantially greater than the firstpredetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE1)) between charge time T₂and T₅. The charging system 126 may adjust the predetermined, partialcharge value (CV_(PRE)) for the battery 110 in response to the detectingof the unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) at charge time T₅. That is,and as discussed herein, the predetermined, partial charge value(CV_(PRE)) for the battery 110 may be dependent upon, at least in part,the charge rate (ΔCR) for recharging the battery 110 and/or thedetection of an anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) and/or anunanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) by the charging system 126. Assuch, and as shown in FIG. 7, the first predetermined, partial chargevalue (CV_(PRE1)) determined by the charging system 126 may be dependenton the detection of the anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) expected tooccur at charge time T₄. However, the detection and/or the occurrence ofthe unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) at charge time T₅ by thecharging system 126 may result in the charging system 126 to adjust thepredetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE)) to the secondpredetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE2)). The charging system 126may adjust to the second predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE2))to relatively ensure that subsequent recharging processes performed onthe battery 110 may result in the battery 110 including the thresholdcharge value (CV_(MAX)) before the anticipated event (Event_(ANTCP))occurs and/or the battery 110 is uncoupled from the charging device 200.That is, by maintaining the battery 110 at the second predetermined,partial charge value (CV_(PRE2)), which may be greater than the firstpredetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE1)), the battery 110 may bemore quickly charged to the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)) whenanother unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)) occurs, and/or before ananticipated event (Event_(ANTCP)) occurs.

The second predetermined, partial charge value (CV_(PRE2)) for thebattery 110 may be substantially maintained by the charging system 126between charge time T₁₀ and T₁₁, as similarly discussed herein withrespect to FIG. 4 between charge time T₂ and charge time T₃. That is,the charging system 126 may maintain the second predetermined, partialcharge value (CV_(PRE2)) for the battery 110, without the detection of adistinct unanticipated event (Event_(UNANTCP)). As similarly discussedherein with respect to FIG. 4 between charge time T₃ and T₄, thecharging system 126 may allow the charging device 200 to recharge thebattery 110 at charge time T₁₁. More specifically, at charge time T₁₁,the charging system 126 may begin to charge the battery 110 at a firstcharge rate (ΔCR₁) to the threshold charge value (CV_(MAX)), and maysubstantially maintain the battery 110 at the threshold charge value(CV_(MAX)) prior to the occurrence of the anticipated event(Event_(ANTCP)) at charge time T₄. As similarly discussed herein withrespect to FIG. 4, the time duration between charge time T₁₁ and T₄ mayrepresent the predetermined time for recharging the battery 110 toensure the battery 110 will include the threshold charge value(CV_(MAX)) prior to the occurrence of the anticipated event(Event_(ANTCP)).

By utilizing the charging system 126 to charge the battery 110 of theelectronic device 100, the charging of the battery 110 may be dependentupon the monitoring and/or the occurrence of events (e.g., anticipated,unanticipated) of the electronic device 100, and not cycling betweenthreshold charge values and minimum charge values. As a result, thecharging system 126 utilized by the electronic device 100 maysubstantially prevent undesirable depletion of the battery's 110 abilityto maintain a charge. That is, by eliminating the cycling charging ofthe battery 110 of the electronic device 100, the charging system 126utilized by the electronic device 100 may minimize and substantiallyprevent the depletion of the battery's 110 ability to maintain a charge.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specificnomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the describedembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe specific details are not required in order to practice the describedembodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specificembodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustrationand description. They are not target to be exhaustive or to limit theembodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations arepossible in view of the above teachings.

We claim:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a battery; and a chargingsystem in electronic communication with the battery, the charging systemconfigured to: initiate a charging of the battery; discontinue thecharging, thereby causing depletion of the battery; predict an eventtime of an event of the electronic device; determine, based on the eventtime, a charge time at which the charging system should reinitiate thecharging; and reinitiate, at the charge time, the charging of thebattery.
 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the charge time isafter the event time.
 3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein theevent comprises a spontaneous interaction with the electronic device. 4.The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the charge time is immediatelyafter the event time.
 5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein thecharge time is prior to the event time.
 6. The electronic device ofclaim 5, wherein the event is an alarm of the electronic device.
 7. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the charging system is configuredto discontinue the charging in response to the battery being charged toa threshold charge value.
 8. A charging device for an electronic device,the charging device comprising: a connection portion configured tocouple to a battery of the electronic device; and a charging system inelectronic communication with the connection portion and configured to:initiate a charging of the battery; discontinue the charging, therebycausing depletion of the battery; predict an event time of an event ofthe electronic device; determine, based on the event time, a charge timeat which the charging system should reinitiate the charging; andreinitiate, at the charge time, the charging of the battery.
 9. Thecharging device of claim 8, wherein the charge time is after the eventtime.
 10. The charging device of claim 9, wherein the charge time isimmediately after the event time.
 11. The charging device of claim 9,wherein the event comprises a spontaneous interaction with theelectronic device.
 12. The charging device of claim 8, wherein thecharge time is prior to the event time.
 13. The charging device of claim12, wherein the event is an alarm of the electronic device.
 14. Thecharging device of claim 8, wherein the charging system is configured todiscontinue the charging in response to the battery being charged to athreshold charge value.
 15. A method for charging a battery of anelectronic device, the method comprising: initiating a charging of thebattery of the electronic device; discontinuing the charging, therebycausing depletion of the battery; predicting an event time of an eventof the electronic device; determining, based on the event time, a chargetime at which the charging should be reinitiated; and reinitiating, atthe charge time, the charging of the battery.
 16. The method of claim15, wherein discontinuing the charging occurs in response to the batterybeing charged to a first threshold charge value.
 17. The method of claim16, further comprising, after reinitiating the charging at the chargetime, discontinuing the charging in response to the battery beingcharged to a second threshold charge value.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein the first threshold charge value is equal to the secondthreshold charge value.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the firstthreshold charge value is different from the second threshold chargevalue.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the event comprises at leastone of an alarm of the electronic device or a spontaneous interactionwith the electronic device.